The coordinated Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies and Master of Public Health (MSPAS/MPH) dual degree program will prepare physician associate students for leadership roles that address community health care needs. The MSPAS/MPH program aims to increase the number primary care clinicians with public health expertise and thus improve access, quality, and cost of care.

In addition to developing clinical competencies and skills as a physician associate, this plan of study provides students with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and a public health practice experience with rural primary care clinical community partners. This innovative program enhances physician associate education with integrated training in public health and primary care and thereby provides students with the information and skills needed to monitor and assess community health, develop and analyze programs and policies, coordinate and integrate care, and utilize appropriate population health measures in quality improvement strategies.

Curriculum

Students enrolled in the MSPAS/MPH program can complete up to 25 credit hours of online public health coursework in the spring and summer terms prior to fall matriculation into the PA program. Courses available for completion during these two terms include the required MPH Core courses based on the Evidence-Based Public Health framework, along with public health elective courses of particular interest to MSPAS/MPH students.

Students then begin the PA program didactic year in the fall after completing the first two semesters in the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH). Ten credit hours of coursework in the PA program curriculum, such as research methods, health administration, and health behavior accrue credit toward both degrees. MSPAS/MPH students complete a specially designed integrated public health /primary care internship and tailor their master’s research project topic to address the public health needs of medically underserved communities.

View the sample curriculum sequence. The curriculum is subject to change.

Why should you pursue a dual MSPAS/MPH degree at UAB?

There are multiple reasons. Among these are a wider choice of career opportunities, broader perspective on caring for patients within their communities, increased ability to provide evidence-based medical care, and expansion of practice capability to tackle international health challenges especially in the developing world.

The UAB School of Public Health and the UAB Physician Associate Studies Program are recognized leaders in education. The School of Public Health and the Physician Associate Studies Program are nationally ranked by US News & World Report. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is the second oldest PA program in the nation, and it has a rich history of community collaboration and support. Housed within the School of Health Professions on the campus of the world class UAB Medical Center complex, a student in the dual MSPAS/MPH program will have access to the region’s medical communities with diverse clinical experiences and opportunities. Students at UAB will have outstanding opportunities to learn both the medical and public health perspectives of providing care while serving in underserved areas.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the admissions requirements for both the MSPAS degree program as well as the MPH degree program. View the MSPAS admission requirements. View the UAB School of Public Health admission requirements.

In addition to meeting the stated requirements for each degree separately, applicants for the dual degree must also have completed a bachelor degree and all prerequisites before December 30 in order to start the program in January of the following spring term.

Application Procedures

In order to be considered for admission to the UAB MSPAS/MPH dual degree program, candidates will need to complete and submit the following materials by the stated deadlines:

• August 1 - The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) Application
• August 7 - The UAB PA Supplemental Application

The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) Application: The UAB PA program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please consult the CASPA website for more information regarding specific CASPA application requirements, procedures, and fees. Applicants should use GRE Code 0570 when sending GRE scores to CASPA. CASPA will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program.

The UAB PA Supplemental Application: The PA program supplemental application is an opportunity for PA program applicants to provide details regarding completion of the program’s prerequisite courses and to express their specific interest in the UAB program. On this form, MSPAS/MPH dual degree program applicants should also be sure to complete the information required for consideration of dual degree admission.

Completed applications are reviewed by members of the admissions committee. Interviews typically occur in October and November. Decisions regarding acceptance to the MSPAS/MPH program will occur in November and December for matriculation in January.

Students who are accepted into the dual degree program will also need to complete the a UAB Graduate School applications. One application is for the MPH program and the other application is for the UAB PA program. Instructions for completing these applications will be provided to students upon acceptance to the MSPSAS/MPH program.

If you have any questions regarding the dual degree program, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Accreditation

The UAB PA program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The UAB MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Fees and Financial Aid

All tuition and fees are billed to the student by the corresponding school during matriculation. Information about tuition and fees can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid website. If you have questions about tuition, fees, and financial aid options, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Program Learning Objectives, Competencies and Goals

The UAB PA program faculty have established performance indicators, learning outcomes, and goals for the program. The faculty regularly monitors and evaluates progress towards meeting its stated outcomes and goals, and continually assesses student's acquisition of knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors. Student, faculty, and graduate surveys are conducted to determine satisfaction in the following areas: admissions and orientation; student services and resources; policies and procedures; and the didactic and clinical curriculum.

Didactic-Year Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the didactic year curriculum, students will be able to perform the following tasks:

• Demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology of disease and their application in clinical practice.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and manage common diseases encountered in general medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, and behavioral medicine.
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing a complete and problem-focused history and physical examination.
• Demonstrate competency in the technical skills needed to perform as a surgical and primary care PA.
• Demonstrate an ability to order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, electrocardiograms, and other diagnostic studies utilized in primary care and surgery.
• Demonstrate proficiency in CPR and ACLS management of acutely ill patients.
• Demonstrate knowledge of medical literature databases, literature review, clinical research designs, basic medical statistics, and interpretation of medical literature.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the PA profession, medical malpractice, medical practice guidelines, and medical ethics.
• Consider cultural and human rights issues, including religion, ethnicity/race, disability, special healthcare needs, socioeconomic level, social determinants of health, gender identity, and human sexuality, as students provide medical care to patients in clinical practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements in the PA profession.
• Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

Clinical-Year Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the clinical year curriculum, students will be able to perform the following tasks at the level of an entry-level physician associate in clinical practice:

• Demonstrate proficiency in obtaining and documenting patient encounters in various clinical settings, across the lifespan.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the technical and surgical skills required of an entry-level PA in clinical practice.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional behaviors, including a respectful and caring attitude toward patients and a willingness to function as a cooperative member of the healthcare team.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize subjective and objective findings to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
• Demonstrate the ability to select and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies to formulate a working diagnosis.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop a patient-centered treatment plan for common medical and surgical disorders, based on current guidelines and standard of care.
• Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrate an ability to interpret scientific literature and apply findings to the practice of evidence-based medicine.

Program Competencies

• Medical Knowledge
  • Appropriately diagnose common medical and surgical disease states.
  • Appropriately manage common medical and surgical disease states.
  • Order and interpret diagnostic studies utilized in medicine and surgery.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
  • Effectively communicate information to patients and members of the healthcare team.
• Patient-Centered Care
  • Provide age-appropriate, patient-centered care, in a safe and effective manner.
  • Demonstrate mastery of knowledge and technical skills needed for an entry-level PA.
  • Appropriately apply medical literature to evidence-based decisions for patient care.
• Professionalism
  • Demonstrate a high-level of professionalism, accountability, and integrity.

Program Goals

Goal 1: Admit high-quality applicants who successfully complete the program within 27 months.

Goal 2: Recruit, admit, and train a diverse cohort of students.

Goal 3: Foster a culture of service and leadership.

Goal 4: Utilizing applied learning principles incorporated through Team-based Learning (TBL) and Case-based Learning (CBL) activities, the curriculum will immerse students in practical clinical cases throughout the didactic and clinical-year, to develop clinical reasoning skills and create self-directed learners.

Goal 5: The curriculum will incorporate both academic and non-academic resources and experiential learning opportunities to cultivate interpersonal skills and behaviors that align with our program mission. Incorporating the additional resources listed below will help to ensure students are not only intellectually sound, technically proficient, and PANCE prepared, but also demonstrate superior character with a high-level of professionalism, communication, responsibility, accountability, ethical practices, and sensitivity to diverse populations, which are needed to provide compassionate healthcare to all.

• Professionalism rubrics.
• Professionalism section of student performance evaluations.
• PA 617 Applied Behavioral Medicine.
• PA 635 Special Populations in Medicine.
• Poverty simulation.
• Community service hours.
• Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
• Experiential learning opportunities (Sight Savers of America, Firehouse Shelter Interdisciplinary Screening Clinic).

Goal 6: Graduates will demonstrate mastery of knowledge and technical skills needed for an entry-level PA.

Goal 7: Graduates will indicate satisfaction with the program’s ability to prepare students for clinical practice and the quality of education offered by the UAB MSPAS Program.

Goal 8: Upon completion of the program, students will feel prepared to transition into clinical practice.

Goal 9: Alumni agree that the UAB MSPAS program prepared them to transition into clinical practice.

Program goals and outcome data can be found in the 2025 UAB MSPAS Outcomes and Goals Report.

The Physician Associate (PA) profession was established in 1965 to help physicians provide healthcare services to underserved and rural populations. While the profession remains committed to its historical mission, PAs are now employed in almost all health care settings and are valuable members of a multidisciplinary health care team.

PAs are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Individual state laws define the scope of practice and prescribing authority of Physician Associates. In general, most states authorize PAs to prescribe non-controlled and controlled substances and perform any task delegated to them by their supervising physician.

To be eligible for licensure, PAs must graduate from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). Although Physician Associates will always remain under the guidance and counsel of a licensed physician, PAs are expected to perform appropriately delegated tasks autonomously.

The PA field is growing, and employment is projected to increase by 28 percent from 2023-2033 (per the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Learn more about the UAB PA Program from our Frequently Asked Questions. We provide information sessions, open to anyone interested, to discuss our application process, mission, curriculum, costs, and outcomes throughout the year. A seat may be reserved by calling 205-934-3209 or emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The following deadlines refer to the year prior to matriculation:

• August 1 of the year prior to matriculation: Last day to take the GRE
• April 29: CASPA opens. e-submit the CASPA Application
• August 1: Deadline to e-submit the CASPA application (11:59 PM EST)
• August 7: Deadline to submit the UAB PA Supplemental Application (11:59 PM EST)
• October 1: Deadline for application to be reviewed and verified by CASPA (11:59 PM EST)

Application Instructions

The UAB PA program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please consult CASPA for more information regarding specific CASPA application requirements, procedures, and fees. The CASPA application needs to be submitted by August 1 of the year prior to matriculation. Applicants should send all application materials directly to CASPA. Applicants should use GRE Code 0570 when sending GRE scores to CASPA. CASPA will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program.

After completing the CASPA application, the applicant should complete the UAB PA Supplemental Application.

Taking a break from, and returning to your PA Supplemental Application submission:

• If you take a break while completing your submission, you will need to revisit the application on the same computer/browser as you did initially. The program automatically stores a cookie in your browser, and you should be able to pick up where you left off.
• If you revisit the applications over two weeks after your last activity, on a different computer or browser, or after clearing your cache, you will be sent to the beginning of the application.

Following the program’s receipt of the CASPA application, official GRE scores, and UAB PA Supplemental Application, the UAB PA program will review the packet.

Completed applications are reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee. Interviews are held in November and admissions decisions are finalized in December. Students who are accepted to the Physician Associate Studies program will need to complete the UAB Graduate School Application.

Application Fees

• CASPA application fee of $177 for first designation and a fee of $51 for each additional designation.
• UAB PA Supplemental Application fee of $75. This may be paid electronically. Payment must be made to process the Supplemental Application. This is a non-refundable fee.
• UAB Graduate School Application fee of $50 for domestic students and $60 for international students. This fee only applies to students accepted into the program.
• UAB PA program seat deposit of $1,000 that is applied towards tuition in the first semester of the program. The deposit only applies to students who are accepted into the program. The deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited by the applicant if he/she does not enroll and attend the UAB PA program.
• Other expenses to anticipate:
  • GRE preparation and examination
  • The cost of sending transcripts to CASPA

Requirements

Credit for Prior Learning or Experience

Credit is not offered for prior experiential learning or prior course work (the Program does not offer advanced placement). Furthermore, credit is not offered for courses provided by another physician assistant program. No student may omit or waive any of the required clinical year rotations.

Evaluation Criteria

Program-specific rubrics are utilized to assess students during an initial review of the CASPA and Supplemental Applications, as well as during the interview. Initial review of applicants includes an evaluation of the student’s academic record, clinical experience, personal statement, letters of reference, and attributes that align with the program’s mission. Upon completion of the initial review, cumulative performance of all applicants is utilized to identify students selected for an interview.

Program-specific measures that are evaluated on each rubric are categorized below. To assess competitiveness of the program from a historical perspective, students are encouraged to review the admission data summaries below.

Academics

• Cumulative GPA, overall science GPA, prerequisite GPA, final course grades of “D,” “F,” and “W,” completion of all prerequisite course at time of application submission, and GRE percentage scores.
• Credit hour demand, outside commitments while enrolled in courses, and course work completed in a graduate-level program in a health-related field of study are considered in the application score.

Clinical Experience

• Although not required for admission, experience in a healthcare setting (providing direct or indirect patient care) is preferred.
• Applicants are evaluated on the extent (hours completed), duration of experience (months, years), and scope of clinical experience.
• Leadership experience and exposure to the PA profession, in the form of shadowing or working alongside a PA, are considered in the application score.

Personal Statement

• Applicants are evaluated on the content and quality of their personal statement.
• Also utilized to perform a second review of applicants prior to finalizing invitations for interview.

Reference Letters

• Three letters of reference are evaluated and considered in the application score.

Supplemental Application

• Applicants are evaluated on the content and quality of responses to the supplemental questions.
• Utilized to identify attributes and characteristics that meet the program’s mission, and to perform a second review of applicants prior to finalizing invitations for interview.

Favored Applicants

The PA program is committed to recruiting native Alabama residents and students who completed their undergraduate or graduate studies at UAB. The program is also committed to admitting a diverse group of students who exemplify attributes that align with our program mission. This includes those from diverse backgrounds, veterans, first-generation scholars, multilingual students, and applicants who have shown a commitment to service and practicing in an underserved or rural area.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Admissions Process Timeline

• May – October: Application review.
• October – November: Interviews.
• December – Admissions decisions finalized.
• January – March: Admitted students complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
• April – August: Complete orientation requirements.

Admission Data Summary

Veteran Applicant Data Summary

Summary of Patient Care and Shadowing Hours

Self-Identified Race and Ethnicity Data Summary

Additional Information

• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships
• Refund Policy